Accessories Saxophone Mutes 101

aldevis said:
I will investigate the issue!

I suspect that 3.15 cm means EXACTLY 3.15 cm. There are few node issues in a mouthpiece and what works in a clarinet might not work on a saxophone. 0.5 mm is a really small hole, though.
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This is a very interesting idea and I suspect you're right, the size and position probably have to be pretty exact. It'll take some math to figure out what nodes are right there to make this this works throughout the horn.

It may or not work on saxophone due to the acoustic differences between clarinet and saxophone and how their respective mouthpieces function, but I'll give it a try if I can find some time to soon.
 
I have a very slightly chipped Kelltone mpc which will not hurt to be drilled. Problem I have is the 3.15 down from the tip is fine, but the other position depends on the lig and will throw out the 3.15 from the tip. If I can find a drill I will hole it tomorrow anyway, and as Richard rightly says, if the hole needs moving it can be filled. If I get it done, I´ll get back to you.
 
Size of the hole: 0.5 mm. If it is bigger, it affects tuning

Drilling technique: a hot needle, then the whole is reamed with a 0.5 drill bit

Position of the hole: in the chamber, not in the bore. In a clarinet mpiece it is easy to see where the bore starts, in a saxophone we need to experiment. the point is that in the chamber you don't interfere with any node/antinode. In the bore it would feel just like a leak.

Effect: not quite a mute, much of a "ppp stabilizer". In particular the 2nd and 3rd register come out easily and in tune.
A very exciting side effect is the ease of playing overtones, something I never actually managed to do on clarinet.

Definitely worth exploring
 
Expect a sudden surge of drilled mouthpieces on Ebay then - starting from 1p only, absolute bargain, no reserve price, no returns accepted "sold as is" for repair/spare...
Now, for all those naff stock vintage MPs dusting in the loft for ages.
 
zannad said:
Expect a sudden surge of drilled mouthpieces on Ebay then - starting from 1p only, absolute bargain, no reserve price, no returns accepted "sold as is" for repair/spare...
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It already happened thanks to barcus-berry. At least 0.5mm is negligible.
 
I'm a week into a four week business trip in Asia. I've got a a clapped out Boosey Emperor clarinet with me and a Boosey mouthpiece drilled according to John Playfair's instructions.

It does work quite well for hotel room practice. As Aldevis says it means you can play more steadily at pp.

All I hope is that my embouchure won't have deserted me. A month is a hell of a long time without a proper practice.
 
Hi all. Having just joined the forum I'm not sure if this has been dealt with elsewhere. I'm new to the sax and, as a reasonably nice and neighbourly guy, I'm thinking of getting a saxophone mute to give my neighbours some respite. I practice during sociable hours and nobody has complained as yet, but I'm feeling a little self-conscious sometimes which restricts my playing. So, the question is: do they actually do what they're supposed to, or are they a waste of money?
Cheers!
Simon.
 
Hello Simon.

There are a couple of threads on here somewhere about mutes but I'm blowed if I can find them.

The saxophone, unlike a brass instrument, has many holes for the sound to come out of. The type of mute that fits in the bell will do nothing for notes higher up the instrument and is a waste of time in my opinion. Try blocking the bell with a teatowel and you'll hardly notice the difference till you get to the bell notes.

One thread suggested drilling a small hole in the mouthpiece. I've not tried it.
 
Colin the Bear said:
One thread suggested drilling a small hole in the mouthpiece. I've not tried it.
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It was a tiny hole in a very precise place, from what I recall. I think you'd have to be rather fortunate to get away with drilling it at random. I think a few people were going to try it and report back, but I suspect a drill in the hand would concentrate the mind a bit.
 
Agree with the above. I wouldn't go drilling mouthpieces, unless it's a real cheapy.. But if someone can show it works, it wouldn't be too difficult for makers to produce a mouthpiece pre drilled with a removable plug.

I used to have a gig bag that doubled as a silencer - you could play the sax inside it. I measured the sound drop at 10dB. Which brings it down from about 110-115dB to about 100-105dB. Depending on how loud you're playing. Although it's a big, leamsurable difference, it's still loud. The bag muffled the sound, but was a compromise which'd probably reduce the effect on neighbours.

There's another type which I haven't tried, forget the name. It's a lightweight glassfibre case that goes around the sax, but is padded. These are supposed to work better. But are very expensive.

The real answer is to get control over the sound level, and this will happen as your embouchure develops.
 

Similar threads... or are they? Maybe not but they could be worth reading anyway 😀

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